Wisconsin Lutheran College Magazine

Summer 2011 issue

Wisconsin Lutheran College
m a g a z i n e
Milestones
& Ministry
• Gift of Generac Hall
• Athletic Center Complete
• Grads Ready for the World
Summer 2011
from the president
Dear Friends,
Beyond grateful – it’s how I’ve felt since arriving on this campus three years ago.
How great is our God as he continues to bless this ministry centered on Jesus.
We continue to successfully maneuver through uncertain economic times and we
are realizing the positive results of sustaining fiscal discipline and focusing on our
core strategic priorities. For the third consecutive year we are on the verge of a
record enrollment this fall. Our College of Adult Graduate Studies has successfully
launched and is continuing to increase the number of students for both the degree
completion and master’s level students.
We’ve been able to dramatically reduce our debt thanks to an incredible $5.1 million collective gift
from friends associated with Generac Power Systems, Inc. – a gift that has allowed us to name our
science/academic building Generac Hall.
We are putting the finishing touches on our new Outdoor Athletic Center, providing locker rooms,
restrooms, concession stands, training rooms, and more for our Krauss-Miller-Lutz Outdoor Athletic
Complex. And we are embarking on a comprehensive, campus-wide strategic planning process that
will reinforce our commitment to prioritize our goals as we focus on the mission and vision of WLC.
We’ve very recently brought on two new vice presidents to serve as leaders for two crucial areas of
operation for WLC. Craig Russow is our new VP of Development. He comes to us from South
Dakota State University in Brookings where he spent the past seven years as the major gifts officer.
Craig is replacing Merlyn Kruse who retired from the full-time ministry and now assumes the role
of Special Assistant to the President on International Relations on a part-time basis. And Duane
Schlomer, our VP of Fiscal Affairs, will conclude his incredible 25 years of service to the college
this fall. Duane has been a skilled and tireless Warrior for this college and its mission. Gary
Schmid, Comptroller and Manager of Finance for the city of West Allis, Wisconsin for the past 20
years, will serve as our new VP of Fiscal Affairs. We are excited to welcome both of these men as
new members of our WLC family.
We continue to turn to our God asking for his continued guidance, wisdom, and courage as we
boldly advance our mission of preparing students for lives of Christian leadership. Significant
challenges and opportunities remain...and yet He continues to provide us with talented and dedicated
faculty and staff, inspiring students, enthusiastic parents, passionate alumni, community partners and
awesome board members ... along with new college supporters and friends.
So yes, I am beyond grateful to serve Jesus at this special place at this most opportune time – I could
not be more passionate about our future, our role in the community and world at large, and our
students – graduates who are Christian leaders who understand the importance of serving others as
they lead. Thank you for your partnership with Wisconsin Lutheran College.
In Grateful Service,
Dr. Daniel W. Johnson
President
If you would like to receive regular e-news updates from the college, and also help us maintain accurate
contact information, please share your email address at friends@wlc.edu.
2 | wlc.edu
We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. ... If it is
serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is
encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs
of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him
govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
MISSION STATEMENT
Wisconsin Lutheran College, affiliated with the
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, is a
Lutheran liberal arts college for Christian men
and women. The college is committed to
providing quality teaching, scholarship, and
service that are rooted in Holy Scripture;
promoting the spiritual growth of students,
faculty, and staff; and preparing students for
lives of Christian leadership.
Wisconsin Lutheran College Magazine
Vol. 23, No. 3
Features
4 A passion to serve
Departments
Associate Vice President of
Marketing and Communication
Vicki Hartig
Editor and photographer
Melanie Gohde Buellesbach
photo contributors
John-Paul Greco
Ernie Mastroianni
6 Partnering for tomorrow’s leaders
8 Longtime WLC champion
Designer
Jennifer Rueth
Wisconsin Lutheran College Magazine is
published for and distributed free of charge to
students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of
the college. All correspondence, letters, news,
corrections, and comments are welcomed and
should be directed to:
Vicki Hartig
Wisconsin Lutheran College Magazine
8800 West Bluemound Road
Milwaukee WI 53226
vicki.hartig@wlc.edu
414.443.8846
ON THe cover
A joyful Bill
Treffert (left),
former president
and CEO of
Generac Power
Systems, and
Aaron Jagdfeld,
current CEO of
Generac, unveiled
the WLC science
building’s official
name — Generac
Hall — on May 14
during a special
celebration event. See pages 6-7 for more.
Photo by Ernie Mastroianni.
10 Teacher education receives
perfect review
2
From the President
9
Campus News
11
Academics
12
Students
15
Faculty & Staff
16
Athletics
17
Fine Arts
18
Alumni
19
Development
14 Teaching – a privilege and a blessing
PRESIDENT
Dr. Daniel W. Johnson, Germantown, Wisconsin
BOARD OF REGENTS 2010-2011
James Fischer (Chair), Waukesha, Wisconsin
Ryan Barbieri, Sussex, Wisconsin
Dr. Gerald Fischer, Bethesda, Maryland
Rev. Kenneth Fisher, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Dr. Terry Gueldner, Manitowoc, Wisconsin
Rev. Jeff Gunn, Phoenix, Arizona
Paul Hartwig, Appleton, Wisconsin
Rev. Mark Henrich, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Rev. Dennis Himm, Grand Blanc, Michigan
Charles Kluenker, Roseville, California
Philip Leyrer, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Dr. R. Bowen Loftin, College Station, Texas
Scott Mayer, Franklin, Wisconsin
Tom Plath, Collierville, Tennessee
Dr. William Raasch, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
C. Daniel Stefferud, Redondo Beach, California
Rev. Paul Steinberg, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Gary Stimac, The Woodlands, Texas
William Treffert, Pewaukee, Wisconsin
Matt Trotter, Cudahy, Wisconsin
W. Andrew Unkefer, Phoenix, Arizona
Daryl Weber, Germantown, Wisconsin
Dr. Ronald White, Fort Myers, Florida
Kerry Woody, Muskego, Wisconsin
George Zaferos, Watertown, Wisconsin
Wisconsin Lutheran College | 3
table of contents
Romans 12:6-8
commencement
A passion to serve
O
n Saturday, May 14, the Class of 2011 participated in Commencement exercises in
the Recreation Complex. President Daniel W. Johnson sent the college’s newest
alumni into the world with the following message: “Graduates, I would like to thank
you for your passion to serve and impact others … You are all richly blessed in so many unique ways.
May your lives be a blessing to others…as you powerfully influence the world for Christ.”
Student speaker Jonathan Fricke of Baraboo,
Wisconsin, graduated with a degree in biology.
In addition to his campus roles as a chapel
accompanist, resident assistant, and praise
band leader, Fricke volunteered in several area
health clinics. He plans to attend the University
of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public
Health as an M.D. candidate in the Wisconsin
Academy for Rural Medicine.
William Treffert, former President and CEO of Generac Power Systems and a WLC board member,
received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from President Johnson during
Commencement exercises. Treffert was recognized for his support of the college and its mission to
educate and prepare effective Christian leaders.
Dr. Paul Boehlke, professor of biology, presented the Commencement address and received the college’s Pro Gloria Dei Award. Boehlke, who retired in May,
served at WLC for 15 years and a total of 50 years in the teaching ministry at Lutheran elementary through collegiate levels. The Pro Gloria Dei Award
recognizes an individual for his life of distinguished service to God and his people.
4 | wlc.edu
commencement
Kristen Kraklow of Vancouver, Washington, showed off her hard-earned diploma
after Commencement exercises. A theatre major and recipient of the Award for
Excellence in Theatre, she directed the WLC Theatre Department production
Gulf View Drive in March 2011. Kraklow also was a member of the Wisconsin
Lutheran Choir.
Joseph Workman of McLean, Virginia, graduated with a doublemajor in computer science and music. He became the first
computer science graduate at WLC and was principal trumpet
chair in the college’s Concert Band.
Interdisciplinary major Chelsea Nillissen of
Birnamwood, Wisconsin, sang with the Wisconsin
Lutheran Choir for the final time. She had a lead
role in the fall 2010 WLC Theatre Department
production of Lady Windermere’s Fan. Nillissen, a
2010 Gary and Sandra Greenfield Christian
Leadership Scholarship recipient, presented
“Investigation and Structure of the Larynx” at the
2011 Undergraduate Research Symposium.
Hanzhu (Hannah) Zhang of Beijing, China, celebrated commencement with her
parents. As a biology major, Zhang participated in an internship in the
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics in the Medical College of
Wisconsin’s Center for Biopreparedness and Infectious Diseases. Zhang shared
her musical gifts as a violinist and vocalist in the Wisconsin Lutheran Choir.
Kaylan Gaines, a communication graduate from
Lake Worth, Florida, was congratulated by
Campus Pastor Nathan Strobel following
Commencement. A defensive lineman for the
Warriors football team, Gaines was named
Northern Athletics Conference Defensive Player
of the Year in 2010.
Maria Flores, an elementary education graduate
from Cudahy, Wisconsin, was elected to the
Cudahy School Board in 2007. She served a
three-year term while she was a student at
WLC. Flores plans to student teach in fall.
Wisconsin Lutheran College | 5
generac hall
Partnering for tomorrow’s leaders
F
inally, WLC’s science/academic
building has been graced with
an official name – Generac Hall. That
name was unveiled at a celebration event
held on the morning of May 14, 2011,
and was the result of a collective $5.1
million gift from several former and
current leaders at Generac Power
Systems, Inc., of Waukesha, Wisconsin.
William Treffert, former president and
CEO of Generac, is a Board of Regents
member and major supporter of
Wisconsin Lutheran College. His idea,
in the spring of 2010, was to ask other
leaders involved with the successful
growth of Generac to join him in a
significant gift to the college as well as a
way to forever commemorate the
Generac name.
Six of the eight Generac Hall donors listed on the plaque installed on the entrance wall of the facility
were present for the celebration event. L to R: Aaron Jagdfeld, Generac President and CEO; Kathy
Ruehlow, on behalf of her late husband, Jerry, Chief Technical Officer; Robert Kern, founder and
owner (along with his wife, Patricia) of Generac Power Systems; Dawn Tabat, COO and Executive Vice
President; Bill Treffert, former President and CEO; and Roger Schaus, former Vice President of
Operations. Tom Kohl, former Chief Financial Officer, and Richard Van Deuren, legal counsel for
Generac, were not able to attend the event.
“I’m thrilled to be able to help out a
college I admire and support, but also to
ensure that the name Generac, a great
company that was very good to me and
many others, will be displayed on this
campus and in the community for
generations,” said Treffert. “Both
Generac and WLC believe in high
standards and strong leadership, so I see
this as a natural partnership.”
The May 14 event was held to thank the
donors who participated in this
multimillion dollar gift to the college as
well as to celebrate the WLC mission,
future growth, and strong partnership
with business and community leaders
sharing mutual values and principles,
according to President Daniel Johnson.
“The WLC family is beyond grateful for
this transformational gift,” he said. “We
praise God for friends and champions
like Bill Treffert and our other Generac
Hall partners. This amazing initiative is
an inspiration to us all, and allows us to
pursue our mission and vision more
passionately than ever before.”
6 | wlc.edu
Tours of Generac Hall offered that morning featured
demonstrations by professors in biology and physics
labs as well as in mathematics classrooms and the
facility’s greenhouse.
generac hall
Generac COO Dawn Tabat invited Generac founder Bob
Kern to come and join her at the podium during the
morning’s program. “I love the strong partnership
between business and higher education that this
moment represents,” she said. “And I want everyone to
know this man next to me is the reason any of this is
possible. He is the heart and soul of the Generac
legacy, and a very special person to me and many,
many other people.”
Although it was a windy, cloudy Wisconsin spring day, the crowd ventured outside to witness
the actual unveiling of the name, a feat perfectly performed by the former and current CEOs
of Generac.
Guests were able to tour and observe a user friendly demonstration display provided by Generac. The company also donated a portable Generac generator
that was used as the special door prize for the event.
An exuberant President Johnson points to the unveiled name, Generac Hall, and thanks the donors and the Lord for allowing this transformational moment to occur.
Wisconsin Lutheran College | 7
friend remembered
Longtime WLC champion
Alfred Schwan
1925-2011
A
l Schwan, former Board of
When Marvin passed away in 1993, Al became more
Regents member, generous
involved with the college as a member of its Board of
financial supporter, and
Regents. He served in that role for 12 years and was
longtime advocate for Wisconsin
respected as a knowledgeable, enthusiastic member.
Lutheran College, passed away in
Al Schwan will be remembered as a generous supporter to
March, 2011.
Alfred Schwan passed
away in March at the
age of 85.
many Lutheran organizations as well as numerous
“I’m so grateful that I was able to
community projects and charities in Salina, Kansas, where
meet Al and get to know and
he and Doris lived for the past 39 years. In WLC’s circles,
appreciate him during these past few
he also will be remembered and credited for giving the
years, before he was called home to
college definite advice to “build the product.”
heaven,” said President Daniel Johnson. “He was such an
incredible friend to this college – in many ways. The fact
that he and Doris participated in our Board of Regents
meetings and activities has had a great impact on WLC’s
growth and development. They lived their Christian faith,
and shared their material blessings in profound and
significant ways.”
Al Schwan enlisted in the U.S. Navy after high school, and
became a naval aviator before he joined his family’s well
known food company in 1964. Then, he was responsible
When asked, in a 1999 interview, why he believed that
completing the physical college campus as soon as possible
should be WLC’s top priority, he was clear. “What we have,
at this moment, is need and opportunity,” he said. “Those
we have – but we also have funding and support. Let’s put it
toward building the product. It’s as simple as that.”
Al Schwan is survived by his wife, Doris, and their five
sons and families.
– Vicki Hartig
primarily for establishing frozen pizza plants throughout the
country, but also served as Schwan’s first corporate pilot.
He became president, CEO, and chairman of the board of
what’s known today as the Schwan Food Company when
his younger brother, Marvin, died in 1993. Marvin started
Schwan’s as a home-delivery business in 1952, selling ice
cream from his family’s dairy in Marshall, Minnesota.
Marvin Schwan, for whom the college’s library and concert
hall are named, was the first family member to become
involved with Wisconsin Lutheran College during the
1980s after developing a strong and special friendship with
then WLC president Gary Greenfield.
8 | wlc.edu
At the college’s annual Board Recognition Banquet held in September, 1999,
a one million dollar endowed chair, the Gary J. Greenfield Chair of Christian
Leadership Studies, was presented to then President Greenfield (right) by
Rev. Larry Burgdorf (left) and Alfred Schwan (center), trustees of the Marvin
Schwan Charitable Foundation. The new endowed chair gift was given to
honor Greenfield’s 25 years of servant leadership as WLC’s president.
campus news
Coming this year
Brigadier General Whittington to speak
B
rigadier General Charles W. Whittington Jr. will
visit the WLC campus on August 31 and speak to
students, faculty, and staff on “Living Servant
Leadership.” Invited by business professor Peter Eppen,
Whittington will share experiences from his eventful
career with the United States Army and National
Guard, including leadership roles in Operations Desert Shield,
Desert Storm, Provide Comfort, and most recently in Operation
Freedom in Iraq in 2007.
“Chuck is a brilliant and incredibly impressive leader,” Eppen said.
“He’s also an unabashed Christian. I’m grateful our students will
have the opportunity to hear him speak about some of his learning
experiences during his illustrious career, to date.”
Golf pro Mark Wilson
to address student-athletes
P
rofessional golfer Mark Wilson, personal
friend of Brett Valerio, registrar, will hold a
Q & A session on campus this fall especially for
Wisconsin Lutheran College student-athletes,
centered on the topic “Life as a Christian on
the PGA Tour.” Wilson, who along with his
wife, Amy, is known for several “Giving Back”
programs of philanthropy, will answer
questions and comment on how he has tried to
live his faith during his nine years on the PGA
Tour. Wilson’s Q & A session will be held
October 6 in the Siebert Center of the
Recreation Complex.
Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images
Digitally Engaged series launches
D
igitally Engaged, a new talk and lecture series spearheaded by
media design professor Chad Lindemann, will begin on
November 17 with the appearance and lecture by Andy Ihantko,
technology writer for the Chicago Sun-Times.
“My objective in beginning this lecture series is to bring
technological and creative speakers to WLC’s campus to share
their experiences, enthusiasm, and love of technology with our
students as well as our faculty and surrounding community,”
Lindemann said. “I’m excited about launching this series this fall
– it’s been in the planning stage for months, and I look forward
to providing this connection between our students and those
professional individuals who live, breathe, and influence the
future of technology.”
Susan Marshall to be keynote
speaker at Butterfly Brunch
S
usan Marshall, wellknown consultant,
author of How to Grow a
Backbone, and founder of
Executive Advisor LLC in
Oconomowoc, Wisconsin,
will serve as the keynote
speaker for the Butterfly
Brunch on March 10, 2012.
The event is sponsored by
the college’s Christian
Women’s Leadershhip Circle.
For more information visit wlc.edu/cwlc.
Mark Wilson watches his tee shot on the third hole during
the final round of the Memorial Tournament at the
Muirfield Village Golf Club on June 7, 2009 in Dublin, Ohio.
Record enrollment
T
he 2011-2012 academic year will begin on a positive note. For
the third year, a record number of students have enrolled for the
fall semester.
We’re excited about three consecutive years of record fall enrollment,”
said Jeff Weber, executive director, enrollment. “Our freshmen, as well
as our largest-ever transfer student class, are appreciative of our
academic quality standards. In fact, even though we’re expanding
enrollment, our freshman class’s academic profile is the highest it’s
been in recent years. Expanding quantity and increasing quality are
twin indicators of the enrollment blessings we are seeking to sustain.
“These are Christian leaders in the making,” added Weber, “and our
campus environment is the perfect place for their leadership potential
to develop and mature.”
Wisconsin Lutheran College | 9
Academics
Teacher education receives perfect review
P
rofessor Jim Holman, director of teacher
education for WLC, received the college’s
official teacher education program approval
letter from the Wisconsin Department of Public
Instruction (DPI) in June.
“I am pleased to grant Approval to the Wisconsin Lutheran
College professional educator preparation program,” wrote Dr.
Tony Evers, State Superintendent. “The Department of Public
Instruction review, conducted on April 5-7, 2011, identified
that all components of PI 34 were in place. You and your faculty
are to be commended for all you have accomplished.”
“Dr. Evers is referring to the comprehensive review WLC
underwent this spring,” explained Holman. “The PI 34 is a
very big deal, and we were examined for all six of their very
thorough components during our review. To have received
a totally approved review, without a single
recommendation or requirement to correct or even
improve any aspect … well, that just simply never happens!”
In fact, the state’s DPI has not granted total approval in
recent years. There are 33 institutions of higher learning in
the state of Wisconsin with teacher education programs.
All must be reviewed by the DPI once every five years.
During the current cycle, Wisconsin Lutheran College was
the 31st to be reviewed, yet the very first institution to
receive a full, unblemished DPI approval.
“Our last review was successfully conducted in 2005,”
Holman said. “This time around, with all six components
being included, we prepared to show and
share how thoroughly and completely we
prepare our students who are pursuing
teaching careers.”
WLC’s teacher education program
received high praise and a “no
requirements” notation for each of the
six DPI review components (policies and
practices, conceptual framework and
standards, assessment system, clinical
program, institutional evaluation of
outcomes, and collaboration). Especially
complimented were WLC’s
“performance-based assessment system
undergirded by a strong general
education program steeped in the liberal
arts tradition” and its “clear evidence
that educator preparation is a campuswide commitment.”
10 | wlc.edu
Similarly, the conclusion of the DPI’s report for the
“conceptual framework and standards” component read:
The Wisconsin Lutheran College School of Teacher Education
is particularly strong in defining, articulating, and
communicating its conceptual framework both within and
outside the institution. Its faculty and students are not only
able to explain the components of the framework, but appear
to embrace them in their professional roles. Administrators and
cooperating teachers in partnering school districts remarked on
this consistently.
During the comprehensive review, more than 100
individuals, including WLC education professors,
administrators, faculty members from other disciplines,
the Provost, the President, as well as area high school and
elementary principals and superintendents from both
public and private school systems, and current teacher
education students as well as graduates of the program,
were interviewed.
“Next year, 2012, will mark the 25th year of our teacher
education program,” said Dr. Joyce Natzke, Dean of the
College of Adult and Graduate Studies, director of teacher
certification and licensure, and the first director of the
college’s teacher education program. “We think this is a time
to celebrate that milestone and to thank God for the
blessings he has bestowed on WLC and its teacher education
program’s growth and development.”
– Vicki Hartig
Whatever the emphasis or interest – elementary, urban, secondary, early childhood, or special
education – students who experience and complete WLC’s teacher education program are among the
best prepared and most sought after teachers in southeastern Wisconsin and throughout the country.
Michelle Behl, teacher education graduate, is shown student teaching fourth grade at Brookfield
Elementary School, Brookfield, Wisconsin.
Applied Environmental Science and Ecology
his summer, students enrolled in the Master of Arts in Education – Science
Instruction had the opportunity to conduct field sampling in their
neighborhood streams. Students within this online course then utilized their
collected samples, along with Google Maps satellite view, Google Earth, and
YouTube to accomplish various course objectives. Students were required to
compile data, write scientific research papers, and prepare multimedia presentations.
T
“Over time, this course will make a significant contribution to resource managers by
providing a broad base of data on the quality of streams in urban areas, as well as
pristine wooded environments across the country,” said Dr. Robert Anderson,
professor of biology. “This is truly learning-by-doing in an online environment.”
Applied Environmental Science and Ecology was one of three new MA-Ed courses
offered to students this summer. Education as a Change Agent in a Diverse Society
and Advanced Educational Psychology were also offered.
Master of Arts in Education
ifteen students began online courses within Wisconsin Lutheran College’s
Master of Arts in Education (MA-Ed) program in June, marking the
commencement of graduate level offerings at WLC. Students represent a variety of
states. MA-Ed students enrolled in one of five specialization areas: leadership and
innovation, instructional technology, high performance instruction, urban
education, and science instruction.
F
“When I look back to the beginning of teacher education at WLC 24 years ago
and see where the Lord has led this institution and program, I am humbled and
blessed to have been called to direct that undergraduate program and now to serve
as the dean of the graduate program and its first master’s degree in education,” said
Dr. Joyce S. Natzke, dean of adult and graduate studies. “These are exciting times
for WLC and new learning experiences for me!”
Students enrolled in the Master of Arts in Education program typically take one
eight week class at a time, completing two courses each term. The 36-credit
program can be completed in as few as 24 months. In addition to the online
courses which are currently offered, on-campus courses will be added this fall,
allowing students even greater flexibility.
“Whether as a teacher, instructional technologist, administrator or community
advocate, our program focuses on more than teaching and learning, administration,
and leadership,” said Natzke. “It focuses on the goal of improved student
achievement. Students in the program participate in rigorous academic thought,
but the real accomplishment is extending what they have learned into their own
school classrooms and communities.
“Given the WLC commitment to servant leadership and quality academics,”
Natzke continued, “we have intentionally designed this program to focus on
those aspects through emphasis on best practices in each of the specialty areas as
applied to any respective educational setting, from the traditional PK-12
classroom to the virtual learning environment and other educational contexts
such as coaching, community programming, and advocacy training.”
– Curtis Wech
Wisconsin Lutheran College | 11
ACADEMICS
Online environmental science
student highlights
Gill interns in the
Governor’s Office
W
LC junior Tierney Gill, a
business administration
and history major from
Milwaukee, secured a summer
internship opportunity of note.
She worked in Wisconsin
governor Scott Walker’s office in
Madison, where she was
responsible for several tasks
within the Scheduling and
Constituent Services department.
Impact Award Finalists
F
ive Wisconsin Lutheran College students were honored for their Christian
leadership at the 2011 Impact Leadership Luncheon in May. Nathanael
Rosenberg, a senior nursing major from Hortonville, Wisconsin, was the 19th
recipient of the college’s Impact Award. Nate served the college as the Spiritual
and Worship Life Representative on Student Senate, which involves organizing
Sunday worship vans/buses, student involvement with campus vicars, and
promoting spiritual growth and involvement among the student body. He was a
four-year member of the Warriors football team.
The Impact Award finalists (pictured left to right) were Melissa Krug, Quinten Petersen, Nathanael
Rosenberg, William Denzer, and Jonathan Fricke.
Kudos to Warriors
“My duties included creating
certificates as well as drafting
letters of recommendation,” Gill
said. “The experience and
atmosphere has been wonderful
and informative, as have the
people that I’ve had the privilege
of working with,” she added.
Gill must have performed her
duties well. She recently was
appointed by Governor Walker to
serve on the Governor’s Juvenile
Justice Commission, a
government advisory board
responsible for the dispersion of
state grants and funding to
various juvenile justice and
corrections offices or agencies.
12 | wlc.edu
Congratulations to the Warriors athletes and coaches for the following
accomplishments:
• The baseball team’s 19-win season tied a school record, which was first
achieved in 2002. The Warriors also tied a school record by winning ten
conference games.
• Forty-three Warriors student-athletes received postseason awards from
the Northern Athletics Conference (NAC) in 2010-2011, including 12 who
received first-team recognition.
• Ninety-nine Warriors student-athletes were named NAC ScholarAthletes in 2010-2011, the most since joining the NAC in 2006-2007.
• In a vote by the NAC’s directors of athletics, Wisconsin Lutheran
College won the men’s Sportsmanship Award for the second time in
three seasons.
Student Notes
I
Senior art
exhibitions
Julie Schwartz,
an art major,
and Andrew
Sierszyn
(left), an art
and theatre
major, had their
Senior Art Exhibitions in the Center for
Arts and Performance lobby in April and
May. Sierszyn’s display, “A Burning Image,”
featured colorful nature photos on canvas.
All photos were taken in Red Rock Canyon
in Nevada. The works by Schwartz, titled
“Limitless Inceptions,” featured colorful
abstract printmaking on layers of paper.
n May, the WLC nursing program took its first group of students abroad
for the program’s three-credit Global Health course. Ten students traveled
with nursing professors Rebekah Carey and Sheryl Scott to Africa for two
weeks to learn about healthcare in Zambia and to meet patients and
healthcare providers.
At Our Lady’s
Hospice in Lusaka,
Zambia, students
learned how the
hospice cares for
HIV and cancer
patients, using its
very limited
resources, while
witnessing the
ravaging effects of
HIV. At Beit CURE International Hospital of Zambia, the students worked
with the pediatric population in orthopedics, ENT, and neurology; watched
Zambian parents comforting their children; and observed surgical procedures.
The group then traveled to Mwembezhi to see a rural health clinic that serves
more than 2,000 people every month.
To read more about the
students’ experiences learning
about healthcare abroad, see
the Vital Signs blog at blogs.
wlc.edu/vitalsigns/.
Eight WLC students traveled
to England and Scotland
May 31-June 16 with
Dr. Martin Moldenhauer
to participate in his Best of
Britain elective course. Moldenhauer, an associate professor of English,
assigned students to research famous British and Scottish writers, then give
their reports while abroad. The group visited homes where authors once lived,
such as the former residences of William Wordsworth, Beatrix Potter, William
Shakespeare, and John Keats. Read about the trip and see more photos by
visiting the group’s blog at
blogs.wlc.edu/bestofbritain/.
As part of a WELS Christian
Aid and Relief ministry
opportunity in the Dominican
Republic, WLC nursing
students Kaili Eagan and Dan
Mulrain helped provide
medical relief. They were interviewed for a video produced by the WELS that
can be seen at vimeo.com/25974518.
Undergraduate research
To support undergraduate research in
the social and behavioral sciences, WLC
organizes a research night each year.
On April 13, more than 330 students
participated in 47 communication
and psychology research studies. The
studies ranged in design from simple
descriptive studies to complicated twofactor experimental research designs.
The student researchers reported their
findings at the Spring Poster Showcase
on May 6.
The 11th annual Undergraduate Research
Symposium took place April 30, with 18
presentations by students from several
disciplines. The keynote speaker was Dr.
Lorna Wiedmann, associate professor
of English, who addressed the topic
“Perspectives on the Humanities.”
Future teachers
The Future Teachers’
Education Association
(FTEA) chapter at WLC won
two awards at the state level:
“Outstanding Local Website
Award” and “Local Chapter
Excellence Award.” The latter
takes into account everything about the
organization. Elise Henrich (left) is WLC’s
chapter president.
Disaster relief
After the March earthquake and tsunami in
Japan, two of WLC’s students from Japan,
Izumi Sawada and Yuta Uchida, provided
the campus with updates and taught
the art of origami crane making, while
collecting donations for relief efforts.
Wisconsin Lutheran College | 13
student highlights
Students study and serve abroad
faculty
Teaching – a privilege and a blessing
E
phesians 4:1 appears on the WLC
biology department’s bulletin board.
It reads:
Teaching students in WLC’s new science
facility, Generac Hall, has fostered the
department’s growth. “Students are able
to learn anatomy and physiology of the
human body working with models,
preserved animals, and a cadaver in
bright, well-ventilated labs,” Boehlke
said. “This building encourages both
learning and teaching.”
“ … for the Lord, then, I urge you to
live a life worthy of the calling
you have received.”
Though posted to share with students,
Dr. Paul Boehlke, recently retired WLC
professor of biology, has demonstrated
living that life well. The calling he
received was to teach – and he responded
in full measure for 50 years.
Stories and students
Throughout his undergraduate (Martin
Luther College), graduate (Winona State
University and Union College), doctoral
(University of Iowa), and post-doctoral
education, he’s enjoyed learning. “Every
good teacher is always a continuing
student,” Boehlke said recently. “It has
always been a joy to learn about creation
and to think about the marvelous things
God has done.”
Professor Boehlke loved to teach at WLC. In
addition, he was awarded the Gary J.
Greenfield Endowed Chair of Christian
Studies in 2004, he taught a marine ecology
course in Jamaica, he was a founder of
Operation Science, and he was invited to
speak at Wort und Wissen in Germany.
Boehlke has enjoyed teaching as well.
His approach to teaching science,
whether at the elementary, high
school, or college level, was to
encourage and inspire learning about
the wonders of God’s creation.
Humility and respect
“Paul is a scholar, yet he’s also a sincerely
humble servant of the Lord,” said
Provost John Kolander. “He has been a
deeply loved and respected member of
our faculty, and he also was a gifted and
tireless public speaker giving dozens of
keynote presentations, often on the
subject of creation/evolution. He has had
more than 100 Christian and/or sciencerelated articles published, has served on
countless committees and boards, yet
he’s an extremely modest man.”
“I responded to the call from Drs.
Greenfield and Bauer in 1996. Where
could I best serve? I prayerfully believed
the answer was WLC,” Boehlke recalled.
“They asked me to help build the biology
department and make it exciting. Dr.
Anderson, for whom I have much respect,
and I did our best to serve as a strong
team, develop the department, and keep
up with WLC’s opportunity to grow.
Often, Boehlke taught with
Paul and Jeanette Boehlke unveiled his portrait at
anecdotes. “I used stories to relate
the Honors Convocation in May, a tradition for all
how a discovery was made or how a retiring WLC faculty members. The framed portrait
now hangs in the Marvin Schwan Library.
wrong path was taken. I’ve always
“There are essential tensions in a
wanted students to understand the
Christian college such as WLC,” he added, “and there
nature of science and its truth claims,” he said, “to
always will be. We strive to be Christian in an increasingly
understand that there is much to learn about the wonder
secular culture. We strive to respect the richness of the
and complexity of Creation. We need to be humble but
liberal arts in a world that values practical training.”
faithful students of nature.
“I have always enjoyed the students,” Boehlke continued.
“It has been a constant joy to see them find positions after
graduation or go on to graduate school. I set up a small
‘bio-board’ to record their successes … a board that now
has grown to take up a wall.”
Those issues as well as the growth of the biology program
and the substantive interaction between the college and its
community, church, and other academic institutions are a
few reasons why Dr. Paul Boehlke describes teaching at
WLC as “a privilege and a blessing.”
WLC biology graduates have gone on to become
physicians, dentists, physical therapists, physician
assistants, veterinarians, clinical anatomists, flight surgeons,
teachers, pharmacologists, and researchers. About 50% go
on to graduate school.
“We echo that,” Kolander said. “It’s been an honor and
blessing to have Paul Boehlke on our campus for the past 15
of his incredible 50 years in the Lutheran teaching ministry.”
14 | wlc.edu
– Vicki Hartig
Melanie Buellesbach, director of communication, was one
of 16 people selected to attend the inaugural Tweetup (a
gathering of Twitter users) at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center/
Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. Former space shuttle
astronaut Hoot Gibson (left) also shared his experiences.
Sabbatical
exhibition
Dr. Charles Cortright, associate professor of theology,
earned his Ph.D. from Marquette University. His dissertation title was “‘Poor Maggot-sack that I
Am’: the Human Body in the Theology of Martin Luther.” It’s a study in historical theology that
examines the place and role of the human body in Luther’s writings, sermons, and letters.
William Curtis joined Wisconsin Lutheran College in June as women’s softball coach. He also
will serve as director of athletic development. Curtis was the varsity softball coach at Wisconsin
Lutheran High School, Milwaukee. He replaces Rachel Kuehl, ’96, who stepped down as softball
coach but will continue as an adjunct professor in sport and exercise science and coaching.
Dr. Ray Dusseau, executive director of the Center for Urban Teaching (CfUT) at WLC, led two
presentation teams at the annual international conference of the Association for Supervision
and Curriculum Development in San Francisco. Co-presenting with Dr. Dusseau were CfUT
director Edie Kastenschmidt and three WLC alumni and current urban teachers, Stef Herbert,
Lindsay Maas, and Kayla Schraufnagel.
Dr. Dan Ebeling, ’98, associate professor of chemistry, and WLC students Jonas Gertsch and A.J.
Armstrong are working on “Novel Process Technologies for Disinfection of Potable Water.” The
research project is funded by NASA and is in collaboration with KWJ Engineering (Newark, California).
Dr. Ned Farley, assistant professor of anthropology, completed his Ph.D. in May. The subject
of his research at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee was the mortuary development of
a frontier cemetery in eastern Walworth County, Wisconsin. His dissertation title was “ReImagining the American Frontier: Mortuary Patterns at Mount Hope Cemetery, 1840-1889.”
Carolyn Fons, director of WLC’s chapel choir and adjunct voice faculty member, conducted the
conference choir for the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society convention in June. One of the
pieces the choir sang was written by WLC director of theatre Jan Gompper.
Brian Jacobsen, associate professor
of business administration, appeared
on CNBC’s Market Alert (left) in spring
to discuss the rising stock market.
Dr. Kerry Kuehn, associate professor
of physics, was awarded the Frank
G. Brewer Civil Air Patrol Memorial
Aerospace Award for outstanding
contributions to the advancement of
youth in aerospace activities.
I
n April and May, James Matson,
professor of art, presented a
series of more than 50 ceramic
pieces created during his fall 2009
sabbatical. “Over the past several
years, beginning with the death of
my mother, I have experienced life
as a series of transitions filled with
joy and pain,” Matson wrote in his
artist statement. “My current work
attempts to consider the mysteries
of the spirit, the struggles of daily
life, and the unseen ramifications
of choices.”
Hosting Guest Artists
Dr. Paul Lehninger, professor of theology, presented a paper titled “The Relationship between
Biblical Illiteracy and Western Morality” at the Congress on the Lutheran Confessions in
Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Dr. Aaron Palmer, assistant professor of history, had an article accepted for publication in
December 2011 issue of The Journal of Early American History. The article was titled “An
Extension of Power: Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement, and Elite Rule in the South Carolina
Lowcountry on the Eve of the American Revolution.”
Gary Schmid, ’82, has accepted a call to serve as the college’s new vice president
of finance beginning in August. For the past 20 years, he has been the comptroller,
manager of finance, and deputy treasurer for the city of West Allis, Wisconsin.
Duane Schlomer, current vice president of finance and administration, will be
retiring in October.
Deborrah Uecker, professor of communication and chair of the school of professional
communication, was appointed to serve on the Board of Directors for the Christ in Media
Institute at Bethany Lutheran College, Mankato, Minnesota.
Dr. Rhoda Wolle, director of the Academic Success Center, earned her Ph.D. in psychology
with an emphasis in educational psychology from Capella University. Her dissertation title was
“College Professors’ Description of the Lived Experience of Working with First Year Learners: A
Phenomenological Study.”
D
irector of arts programming
Dan Schmal (left) and box
office and events manager Loni Boyd
pose with pianist Jeffrey Siegel during
a reception following the final show
of the 2010-2011 Guest Artist Series.
Siegel returns to the Schwan Concert
Hall four times this season for his
popular Keyboard Conversations
series. For a complete Guest Artist
Series schedule and ticket
information, call the box office at
414.443.8802 or visit wlc.edu/arts.
Wisconsin Lutheran College | 15
faculty & staff
Faculty & staff notes
athletics
Outdoor Athletic Center nears completion
C
onstruction on the Outdoor Athletic Center at the Krauss-Miller-Lutz Athletic Complex began in April, and is
on schedule for an August completion, in time for fall sports practices.
The facility includes public restrooms, varsity locker rooms and visiting team locker rooms, medical training room,
coaches’ meeting room, referee/coaches’ locker room, laundry, and storage areas. Under the existing bleachers and
press box, located along the west side of the football field, will be permanent restrooms and a concession stand.
Visit wlcsports.com to view schedules for the Warriors’ fall sports and for updates on the Outdoor Athletic Center’s
construction. Plan on attending Homecoming on Saturday, October 1 and enjoy our celebration event.
As Phase I of the construction
project nears completion,
landscaping around the Outdoor
Athletic Center will be restored and
temporary bleachers will be
reinstalled. Eventually, a planned
Phase II of the project will include
2,500 seats built onto the exterior of
the structure, plus two suites, a press
box, and two outdoor event decks.
In early May, vice president of finance and administration Duane Schlomer
visited the Outdoor Athletic Center site. Schlomer is overseeing his final
construction project with the college. He will retire in October after managing
ten building and renovation projects throughout his 25 years of service to WLC.
The football team’s locker room neared completion with the delivery of
wood lockers. The facility will help relieve the overcrowded Recreation
Complex on campus by providing better training and game-day facilities
for student-athletes near the fields where they compete. Last year WLC
had 340 students (40% of the student body) participate for the Warriors
in 16 NCAA Division III athletics, cheer, and/or dance teams.
Last year the Krauss-Miller-Lutz Outdoor Athletic Complex was used by 38 schools and groups
from surrounding communities in addition to the college’s athletic teams. The new structure
and upgraded amenities will help attract more teams and fans from the entire southeastern
Wisconsin area.
16 | wlc.edu
Fans will be able to enjoy food from a permanent
concession stand, built underneath the main bleachers
at Raabe Stadium. Public restrooms, as well as team
meeting space and storage, will be located under the
bleachers as well.
fine arts
Concert Band takes “On, Wisconsin!” on the road
I
n May, the WLC Concert Band toured Iowa, Kansas, Texas, Louisiana, and
Missouri, performing a program of all-American composers. “Our 2011 spring
band tour was a huge success,” said Terry Treuden, director of instrumental music.
The band performed magnificently for each of the concerts.”
Highlights from the trip included the band touring the new Dallas Cowboys’
stadium (below) where band members were even permitted to kick footballs on the
field. While in San Antonio, the group enjoyed a day off. Many visited the city’s
famous Riverwalk as well as the Alamo. “This was especially meaningful since one
of the selections the band performed on this tour was a new composition by
Director Terry Treuden donned a
cheesehead at the end of each tour concert
for the performance of “On, Wisconsin!”
Frank Ticheli called ‘San Antonio
Dances’,” Treuden said. “The first
movement is a musical
impression of the Alamo Gardens
located directly behind the
Alamo, and the second
movement is a musical
impression of the Riverwalk.”
“Philodendron leaves”
by Nora Boedeker
Upcoming Schlueter
Art Gallery exhibitions
Nature by Three:
The art of Nora Boedeker, Jenie Gao,
and Carol Schwartz,
September 9 through October 18, 2011;
opening reception: September 16, 2011
Community outreach
W
LC alumni Tim ‘06 and Maggie (Rodewald) Rebers ‘05
performed at WLC on July 9 as part of the Summer Arts in the
Park series. Their concert took place during the annual Art & Craft Fair
in the Quad. This summer’s series featured nine concert dates between
June and August, beginning with a Koiné concert and concluding with
the Doo-Wop Daddies. The series is an outreach opportunity for the
college. “It brings many people from the Milwaukee area to the WLC
campus for the first time,” said Dan Schmal, director of arts
programming. “I hear frequent comments about our beautiful campus
and what an asset WLC is to the community.”
Senior Thesis Art Exhibition
November 4 through December 16, 2011;
opening reception November 4, 2011
Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition
February 10 through March 30, 2012;
opening reception February 10, 2012
Senior Thesis Art Exhibition
April 20 through May 19, 2012;
opening reception: April 20, 2012
Wisconsin Lutheran College | 17
ALUMNI
From liberal arts to the manufacturing market
W
hen Nate Kogler, ’99, graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran College with a
degree in business administration, he didn’t know what the Lord had in
store. The economy was weak, few jobs were available, and he wasn’t sure what he
wanted to do. “Honestly, I took the first job I was offered,” Kogler recalled. That
job was assistant product manager for Bradley Corporation, a business-to-business
plumbing manufacturing company in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.
As a product manager, Kogler provides strategic marketing for individual product
lines. In 2004, he led a team of designers and engineers in the development of
ndite technology, which converts light to energy to power touchless sinks. In
2008, Small Business Times magazine in Milwaukee awarded Kogler’s team the IQ
innovation award for ndite. Also in 2008, Kogler received his M.B.A. from The
Pennsylvania State University.
Kogler is now the divisional product manager for safety and industrial, in charge
of emergency safety fixtures, which include drench showers and eye-wash stations
used in schools and businesses that handle hazardous materials. “The products I’m
responsible for can save a person’s sight and his or her life,” said Kogler. “I’m
blessed to be able to say that about my job.”
Kogler credits much of his success to the Christ-centered foundation in academics
and leadership provided by WLC. “I viewed my professors as mentors, and they gave me countless opportunities to grow
as a student, a professional, and a Christian,” he said. “WLC encouraged me to be a servant leader, and that has made all
the difference in my career.”
Alumna helps lead Pathways students on inaugural journey
K
elly (Gilbertson) Ramirez, ’03,
assistant director of Pathways to
College, was one of five chaperones leading
ten high school freshmen on Pathways’ first
trip, “Passport to Learning Civil Rights Trip
& College Tour” in June.
The primary purpose of Pathways to College (which is
located at Wisconsin Lutheran College) is to help lowincome, first generation students recognize, prepare for,
and overcome the obstacles that
stand in their paths to college
success. Part of this process includes
taking the program’s high school
students on annual trips to explore
colleges and experience historical
sites. Students earned the ability to
go on this trip by maintaining at
least a cumulative 2.8 GPA
throughout their freshman year.
worth it. We covered over 3,000 miles of roads, traveled
through ten states, and saw nine colleges. We visited
multiple museums and historical sites and were
fortunate enough to interact with many individuals
along the way who shared their personal knowledge of
the southern states and/or the Civil Rights Movement.
The end of the trip was bittersweet – students were
happy to get home to their families but sad that a great
trip was over. We are already looking forward to next
year’s trip – American Government and the East Coast!”
Ramirez, who worked with the
students on writing blog posts
during the trip, recapped the tour:
“We had a busy 11 days on the
road, but the experience was well
You can read more about the Pathways trip at blogs.wlc.edu/pathways.
18 | wlc.edu
“
W
e have the WLC Endowment Fund because it is imperative
that we ensure a strong future for generations of Wisconsin
Lutheran College Warriors,” said President Daniel Johnson in
addressing the critical importance of continuing to grow the
college’s endowment.
Russow to lead college’s
development team
C
Supporters of the Endowment Fund recognize how essential their gifts
are to position WLC for the future. For instance, Beth Kietzmann,
long time donor, is centered on spreading God’s Word. “As Christians
we are to be salt and light to the world,” she said. “God’s Word is the
basis for education at WLC. Being the parent of an alum (Renee, ’96),
it is a high priority for me to continue entrusting WLC to carry on
that mission and to provide support.”
Dr. Jarrod Erbe, Dean of the college of Arts and Sciences and
professor of biology at WLC, agrees, but with an additional emphasis.
“WLC is a small college, but it is not a static college. A strong
endowment is critical to the growth and continued excellence of our
academic programs.”
Gifts to the endowment are carefully invested and held in perpetuity,
with money earned from these investments providing support for
many programs focused on academic excellence. This income also is
a permanent source for funding that supports scholarship for
deserving students.
“Contributions to the WLC Endowment Fund truly make it possible
for motivated students to become stronger Christians and often
develop into truly inspirational role models of Christian leadership,”
President Johnson said. “This is such a critical time for WLC. Recent
and current signs of economic recession in our country remind us all
of how important it is to save for the future. Tomorrow’s challenges
are a great unknown. We must ensure a strong future for the next
generation of Christian leaders – for Jesus.”
“I donate to WLC’s endowment because I believe it’s a gift that will have a much greater
return,” said Ana Stern, ’10. “It’s fundamental for the college’s future financial health,
especially because it’s a private institution. Many colleges and universities are sustained
by their endowments, and I would like to see the same for WLC.”
Craig Russow
raig Russow has
accepted a call to
become WLC’s new vice
president for development.
He fills the position
formerly held by Merlyn
Kruse, who has semiretired and now serves the
college as Special Assistant
to the President for
International Relations.
Russow has served as the major gifts officer for
the South Dakota State University Foundation
in Brookings for the past seven years. He also
held two earlier positions for the university; as
the recruiting coordinator and offensive line
coach for the SDSU football team, and as the
assistant director of admissions.
Russow received his undergraduate degree from
Northwestern College, Watertown, Wisconsin,
and his teaching certification and master’s
degree at South Dakota State University.
“We’re thrilled that Craig has joined us and
assumed the leadership role of this profoundly
important function of our college –
development,” said President Daniel Johnson.
“I believe Craig’s professional experience in
the world of higher education development
will be an incredible blessing for us,” said
President Johnson. “He has a great
development team to work with, and is
looking forward to meeting our friends and
supporters in the coming weeks and months.”
Russow explained why he is embracing his
new role with enthusiasm. “The unique
mission of Wisconsin Lutheran College
attracted me to this position,” he said. “The
ability to educate students in an environment
grounded in the Scriptures truly makes WLC
a special place. And our ability to enhance
that type of environment through
development makes this a very appealing
professional challenge.”
Wisconsin Lutheran College | 19
development
Endowment Fund can transform lives
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Outdoor Athletic Center page 16
Join the conversations about WLC!
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